Europe or US to meet? Visa questions.

[BluesTraveler 0]

There is a greater sociological event going on. You will not find this same phenomena going on in Europe, Asia, or South America. Why?

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????

Just look at this site, how many women from Thailand and the Philippines are immigrating into the US???

Not even counting the women from Canada that come to the US? Every year around the globe, millions of people move to be with someone. People move from England to France, US to Germany, Russia to US, Thailand to US, Canada to US etc... It happens.

Now if you want to talk about the psychology of why women marry men in general, then you have different reasons. Yes she wants to leave country X and move to country Y because her husband is there. Why she wants to marry him is different issue.

[visaveteran 1]

The situation dictates the motivation.

Exactly, so categorical statements should be avoided.

All I know is that since the fall of the SU in 1989 a flood of Russian women have married US men and come to the USA. This is not a small thing...but a huge phenomena. Clearly, Russian women like to marry American or non Russian men. Clearly they are very willing to leave Russia and sometimes bring along family members beyond children. I find it hard to believe that all of this mass migration by Russian women is all about romance and random meetings and true love.

There is a greater sociological event going on. You will not find this same phenomena going on in Europe, Asia, or South America. Why?

It is my judgment that the Russian woman is less driven by love and courtship issues then by pragmatic and survival issues. That is why a fat, bald, ugly US man (per Mox's frequent referral) can find and marry a young, beautiful Russian woman and be successful over time.

Actually the flood you mention only occured because the Russian government started to allow them to leave; they were oppressed from leaving before that.

You will not find this same phenomena going on in Europe, Asia, or South America. Why?

Wanna bet? Ever notice how many Hispanic women are here now? And how many want to leave the Phils? I don't see this mass exodus of women from Russia that you seem to see; maybe you ought to open your boundaries and do more research outside your area.

And, I am not fat, bald or ugly. Really, you read too much off those dating websites.

I guess jumping to conclusions is OK if you're the one doing it. I have not looked at a mail order bride site in years. I met my wife through a referral from another Russian woman. I have lived in the FSU for a total of 18 weeks with my longest stay at 60 days. I've lived in 6 different cities including one in Siberia. I don't know but I think I've got most guys beat with time on the ground in Russia. I draw a lot of my impressions and data from my experiences in country.

So, you're willing to agree that the Soviet Union oppressed its women. What's so different today besides they can permanently leave if they get engaged or married? They hold almost no political positions and own very little industry or wealth. From what I can determine, a lot of men don't even work but let their wives and girlfriends care for their needs. This seems paradoxical but women are holding together both the Russian families and the country itself. The divorce rate is staggering and the population of Russian people continues to shrink at what some call an alarming rate. Why? Because a whole lot of men die young from a bad lifestyle and stress and because a whole lot of Russians want out. Many Russian women who leave take people with them...children, parents, siblings.

Hispanic women are here because they can walk across the border. I personally don't see a lot of American born men married to Mexican women but maybe it's different in Texas or the southwest. The Philippines is a smaller but significant area for "mail order brides." The thing with Russia is how big the damn place is. Again, it's the magnitude. Compare the Russian female population to that of the Philippines.

I'll take your word that your not fat, bald and ugly but I have seem fat, bald, ugly and old men with drop dead beautiful Russian women. This means inside Russia and outside. I've sat in many Russian restaurants and watched in amazement as an ancient ugly Russian man walked in with a glamor model on his arm. Maybe it was about love, but I have a feeling it was about something else.

[visaveteran 1]

There is a greater sociological event going on. You will not find this same phenomena going on in Europe, Asia, or South America. Why?

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????

Just look at this site, how many women from Thailand and the Philippines are immigrating into the US???

Not even counting the women from Canada that come to the US? Every year around the globe, millions of people move to be with someone. People move from England to France, US to Germany, Russia to US, Thailand to US, Canada to US etc... It happens.

Now if you want to talk about the psychology of why women marry men in general, then you have different reasons. Yes she wants to leave country X and move to country Y because her husband is there. Why she wants to marry him is different issue.

Thailand and the Philippines are tiny countries. Do you wish to compare them to Russia, the Ukraine and the all other FSU countries with Russian women populations? Some women come from China but I think it's very difficult and slow to get out of China for marriage. I don't see a deluge of Chinese women but there are some.

[baron555 934]

This seems paradoxical but women are holding together both the Russian families and the country itself. The divorce rate is staggering and the population of Russian people continues to shrink at what some call an alarming rate. Why? Because a whole lot of men die young from a bad lifestyle and stress

Actually Russian women have been holding together that country every since WWII and maybe earlier.

The paradox is that all these "bad" Russian men, were raised by Russian women. Now what does one draw from that?

I would also add, when did you spend your time in Russia?

Edited September 28, 2009 by baron555

[eekee 182]

10 weeks=visiting. Not living. If you have a job, a lease, real ties--that is living somewhere. Even 60 days is just an extended visit.

Thailand and Phillippines are smaller, but denser. It doesn't really matter how big the the FSU is; the US has twice as many people as Russia, for instance. The VAST majority of Russia's population lives East of the Urals, anyway.

[Rob_Lesya 4]

I have lived in the FSU for a total of 18 weeks with my longest stay at 60 days. I've lived in 6 different cities including one in Siberia. I don't know but I think I've got most guys beat with time on the ground in Russia. I draw a lot of my impressions and data from my experiences in country.

I'm not interested in getting in the middle of all of the Uhhhhhhh.... "stuff" that's flying back and forth here, but if you consider 60 days inside a country as having "lived" there, then that officially makes me a citizen of SVO2!

[visaveteran 1]

This seems paradoxical but women are holding together both the Russian families and the country itself. The divorce rate is staggering and the population of Russian people continues to shrink at what some call an alarming rate. Why? Because a whole lot of men die young from a bad lifestyle and stress

Actually Russian women have been holding together that country every since WWII and maybe earlier.

The paradox is that all these "bad" Russian men, were raised by Russian women. Now what does one draw from that?

I would also add, when did you spend your time in Russia?

Yes, boys raised by Russian mothers and often without a father. I would hope you understand the importance of a present and sober father to the success of a child. My wife's ex husband refuses to lift a finger or spend a dime on his own son. I don't think that's a rare occurrence. A woman can try to do a good job, but an adult male is needed. There's some poignant articles about the absence of strong male role models in Russia and the negative consequences. The rise of skinheads, drug use, crime, youth in prisons, early death, etc.

I first visited Russia in 2005. My last stay was the winter of 2008.

[visaveteran 1]

I have lived in the FSU for a total of 18 weeks with my longest stay at 60 days. I've lived in 6 different cities including one in Siberia. I don't know but I think I've got most guys beat with time on the ground in Russia. I draw a lot of my impressions and data from my experiences in country.

I'm not interested in getting in the middle of all of the Uhhhhhhh.... "stuff" that's flying back and forth here, but if you consider 60 days inside a country as having "lived" there, then that officially makes me a citizen of SVO2!

Well, I ate food I helped cook, breathed air, lived in a flat, rode the buses and taxis. Shopped at the markets, went into the mountains and actually spent some time in the hospital...I don't know but I'd say I was living there. I sure was not a tourist.

My guess is most American men spend a lot less time in country than me...but I'm all ears and waiting to here feedback.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

I guess jumping to conclusions is OK if you're the one doing it. I have not looked at a mail order bride site in years. I met my wife through a referral from another Russian woman. I have lived in the FSU for a total of 18 weeks with my longest stay at 60 days. I've lived in 6 different cities including one in Siberia. I don't know but I think I've got most guys beat with time on the ground in Russia. I draw a lot of my impressions and data from my experiences in country.

Hispanic women are here because they can walk across the border. I personally don't see a lot of American born men married to Mexican women but maybe it's different in Texas or the southwest. The Philippines is a smaller but significant area for "mail order brides." The thing with Russia is how big the damn place is. Again, it's the magnitude. Compare the Russian female population to that of the Philippines.

18 weeks amounts to what? Four months give or take, right?

If so, you don't have ME beat. I did the four months (two and two) in just two trips. All other trips were for days or just over a week. However, I already lost count how many "short" trips to Russia I have made in the last 10 years.

In terms of cities, you do not beat me either. I have lived during more than 24 hours in a total of eight Russian cities. And if you include other FSU countries like Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Estonia, the city count goes over 20.

Even so, I feel that I have seen just a small microcosm of what Russia and their people are all about. But still, I have my reasons to believe that if you can meet a girl outside Russia, like in Turkey or Egypt, you will have a better time and your experience will be more satisfying.

This reminds me a little story on my first visit to Russia. I took the train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg and back. Upon entering Finland again, we had to cross two checkpoints: Russian and Finish.

The policeman in the Russian side even made me count the money I had inside my wallet in front of him. He probably thought that I was lying on my customs form. It was scary, to say the least.

The policeman in the Finish side was quite a big guy and he approached me with a very serious demeanor ... until he saw my passport. Then he asked a few friendly questions, like what I was doing in Russia. The final question ended up as follows:

Policeman: So, what do you think of Russia?

Myself: It's different!

Policeman: (BIG smile, while giving me the passport) -> very different, indeed!

This experience made me realize why many Russians covet a European or American passport. Make your own conclusions!

P.S.: This is not a Hispanic forum, so I am going to keep my mouth shut about that. However, don't you dare make conclusions about what you probably know nothing about. Hispanic is NOT only Mexico (last time I checked, that is the only Hispanic country that borders the USA).

Edit: quick spelling corrections!

Edited September 28, 2009 by clueless_in_usa

[amberdima 6]

Yes, boys raised by Russian mothers and often without a father. I would hope you understand the importance of a present and sober father to the success of a child. My wife's ex husband refuses to lift a finger or spend a dime on his own son. I don't think that's a rare occurrence. A woman can try to do a good job, but an adult male is needed. There's some poignant articles about the absence of strong male role models in Russia and the negative consequences. The rise of skinheads, drug use, crime, youth in prisons, early death, etc.

I first visited Russia in 2005. My last stay was the winter of 2008.

my belorussian husband was raised by a russian mother and a less than desirable father. he doesn't drink, do drugs, commit crimes, etc. he never thought of living in another country until he met me by chance on an airplane. he works multiple jobs, helps around the house, including cooking and cleaning, and is extremely chivalrous. if this is an act to cover up his devious plans to leave his horrible law school and hostel-living with no responsibilities surrounding by hot russian chicks, than he deserves the gc.

[mox 298]

Thailand and the Philippines are tiny countries. Do you wish to compare them to Russia, the Ukraine and the all other FSU countries with Russian women populations? Some women come from China but I think it's very difficult and slow to get out of China for marriage. I don't see a deluge of Chinese women but there are some.

Russia population: 142 million

Ukraine population: 46 million

Phillipines population: 92 million

Thailand population: 68 million

(source Wikipedia)

Geography means very little in this discussion, and since Russian and Ukraine are two separate countries you can't really lump them together in this discussion. In terms of relative population sizes, Phillipines and Thailand are close enough that comparisons aren't really too out of the question.

Edited September 28, 2009 by mox

[eekee 182]

I have lived in the FSU for a total of 18 weeks with my longest stay at 60 days. I've lived in 6 different cities including one in Siberia. I don't know but I think I've got most guys beat with time on the ground in Russia. I draw a lot of my impressions and data from my experiences in country.

I'm not interested in getting in the middle of all of the Uhhhhhhh.... "stuff" that's flying back and forth here, but if you consider 60 days inside a country as having "lived" there, then that officially makes me a citizen of SVO2!

Well, I ate food I helped cook, breathed air, lived in a flat, rode the buses and taxis. Shopped at the markets, went into the mountains and actually spent some time in the hospital...I don't know but I'd say I was living there. I sure was not a tourist.

My guess is most American men spend a lot less time in country than me...but I'm all ears and waiting to here feedback.

As I said, unless you have a real life there--a job, a flat that you are not just a guest in, a circle of friends, real ties--it's not LIVING there. Did you have any other purpose in being there besides hanging out and seeing sights? Still tourist in my book.

[visaveteran 1]

Thailand and the Philippines are tiny countries. Do you wish to compare them to Russia, the Ukraine and the all other FSU countries with Russian women populations? Some women come from China but I think it's very difficult and slow to get out of China for marriage. I don't see a deluge of Chinese women but there are some.

Russia population: 142 million

Ukraine population: 46 million

Phillipines population: 92 million

Thailand population: 68 million

(source Wikipedia)

Geography means very little in this discussion, and since Russian and Ukraine are two separate countries you can't really lump them together in this discussion. In terms of relative population sizes, Phillipines and Thailand are close enough that comparisons aren't really too out of the question.

We could limit this numbers count to Russia versus any given other single country or we could, as is often mentioned here, use the entire FSU as the basis. Even this forum is a three-country group. So if we include Russian or Slavic women from ALL the former Soviet Union, than the numbers shoot up considerably...even if we only count the Russian or Slavic women living in each country rather than the entire female population. For instance, Kyrgyzstan has many Russians living there, especially in Bishkek but the major population group is the Asian Kyrgyz people. Nonetheless, I know men who have married Russian women from Bishkek.

Simply said, do we talk about the women of the Soviet Union, or the women of Russia?

Another factor in the Philappines versus Russian debate is the level of education and ability to adjust to life in the west. All Asian countries have high illiteracy rates versus the west. These issues may not stop a man from pursuing a woman, but I think the high populations of "tribal and mountain" and Muslim people limits the subgroup of desirable wives for most western men. It is not the population but the subgroup of that population that could be classified as suitable for marriage to a western man.

[visaveteran 1]

I have lived in the FSU for a total of 18 weeks with my longest stay at 60 days. I've lived in 6 different cities including one in Siberia. I don't know but I think I've got most guys beat with time on the ground in Russia. I draw a lot of my impressions and data from my experiences in country.

I'm not interested in getting in the middle of all of the Uhhhhhhh.... "stuff" that's flying back and forth here, but if you consider 60 days inside a country as having "lived" there, then that officially makes me a citizen of SVO2!

Well, I ate food I helped cook, breathed air, lived in a flat, rode the buses and taxis. Shopped at the markets, went into the mountains and actually spent some time in the hospital...I don't know but I'd say I was living there. I sure was not a tourist.

My guess is most American men spend a lot less time in country than me...but I'm all ears and waiting to here feedback.

As I said, unless you have a real life there--a job, a flat that you are not just a guest in, a circle of friends, real ties--it's not LIVING there. Did you have any other purpose in being there besides hanging out and seeing sights? Still tourist in my book.

I was "living" with my wife in her home which is actually my home by marriage (technically anyway). The weather was as harsh as I have ever experienced. Let me just say it was a LONG 60 days. Tourist? More like survivor.

[mox 298]

Simply said, do we talk about the women of the Soviet Union, or the women of Russia?

Russia and Ukraine have very different economies and cultures are only loosely related. There has been no Soviet Union for for almost 20 years. You can say they are all FSU countries, but truisms in Ukraine are not necessarily going to be truisms in Russia. If you want to lump all the FSU countries together, you should probably lump all of Asia too, because it would make about as much sense.

I was "living" with my wife in her home which is actually my home by marriage (technically anyway). The weather was as harsh as I have ever experienced. Let me just say it was a LONG 60 days. Tourist? More like survivor.

Heh. I agree with ekee (shocker, I know ) but I won't disagree with you when it comes to the cold. That's a cold that just goes right through you, grabs you by the nuts, and shakes vigorously.